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Increased demand drives Chester-based law firm, Manleys, to expand its reputation management services with technology partners

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Manleys, a Chester-based law firm, has announced two new partnerships which will add vital and sophisticated services to its existing work protecting online reputations in the digital era.

Reputation management is crucial today more than ever, with a significant increase of high-profile cases being reported in the media. Corporate and individual reputations can be destroyed following the publication of misinformation, content or reviews which is damaging, untrue, or libellous. The consequences can be irreparable with loss of income, damaged careers, declining bookings and appointments and much more.

Regulating and controlling online abuse, bad reviews, and negative comments has become big business.

Manleys has developed a formidable reputation for protecting its clients against damaging online publications since its incorporation in 2012. The firm handles the prevention of publications, broadcasts and the removal of damaging internet content.

Manleys has recently partnered with technology providers in Switzerland and the UK to allow their clients to access a portal of their global online presence at a far deeper level than a regular search engine such as Google. This will enable their clients to monitor their entire internet footprint, whether in print, images, or video format and remove anything deemed harmful or damaging.

In the instances where removal of content is not possible due to legal reasons, steps can be taken to “demote” and neutralise content so that its ranking on search engines dramatically reduces to the point where it is difficult to find at all.

Managing Director of Manleys, Mark Manley, said: “Our work is to protect the established reputations of our clients, their business interests, and brands. Whilst we have had great successes previously in restriction of harmful content about our clients, these new partnerships add significant new layers of protection such that offending online content can be identified globally, attacked quickly, and either removed entirely or diluted/demoted to such extent that it is almost untraceable. We are delighted to have formed these relationships which will add a lot to the already successful legal remedies we obtain.”

Manleys clients include members of the Royal family, MPs, Governments, NHS Trusts, large PLCs, SME companies, Football Clubs, Managers, players, agents, athletes, and others involved in sports including Formula One and Boxing. They also have a substantial number of cosmetic surgeons, beauticians, hoteliers and other clients who rely upon online reviews for their business.

For any queries in relation to identification, or removal of online content, contact Mark Manley at mark.manley@manleys.law or see the firm’s website: www.manleys.law

How PwC and Ada are developing diverse talent for the tech sector

PwC has partnered with further education provider Ada, the National College for Digital Skills to offer young people and those looking to re skill in the North West the opportunity to earn while they learn in a new Technology Degree Apprenticeship (TDA) programme.

The programme will see 65 apprentices joining across three pathways – Cyber Security, Software Engineer and Data Analyst. All of the new recruits will work from PwC’s Manchester office and complete their degree apprenticeship at Ada College.

Almost a third of the apprentices are female – which is above the tech industry average, and a high proportion are from other underrepresented backgrounds in technology, such as minority ethnic and disadvantaged backgrounds.

This is the first time PwC has worked with a further education provider instead of a University to deliver their Technology Degree Apprenticeships, and the company is proud to be offering an alternative entry route to aspiring technologists.

This “work first” programme complements the firm’s “study first” university-based apprenticeships, and will see each apprentice gain a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship over the course of three years and have the tuition fees for their degree fully funded before they continue their careers at PwC and beyond.

Ben Higgin, Head of Technology and Investments at PwC UK, is spearheading this new programme. He says that the Tech Degree Apprenticeship has been specifically designed to appeal to students who want to get practical work experience straight away, and fast track their careers in technology without the traditional university pathway.

He added: “This programme is an exciting opportunity for people in the North West, creating an opportunity to train much needed talent in our region. As the digital skills gap continues to widen, creating a barrier for growth, we’re proud to share some of the responsibility in supporting a diverse pipeline of entry-level tech talent.

“Our first cohort will be part of our brand-new Tech Hub in the PwC Manchester office and will become PwC employees from day one. They’ll be earning a salary throughout the course which blends 20% college learning with 80% practical work-based technology projects.”

Claire McDonald Apprenticeship Delivery Manager from Ada, the National College for Digital Skills, said:

“We are delighted to be working with PwC on the Tech Degree Apprenticeship programme. Manchester is the fastest growing tech hub in Europe so it is the ideal place to launch this ambitious programme.

“The apprenticeship offering at Ada provides life-changing career opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds for whom university is out of reach. With an Ada apprenticeship you can earn while you learn with the most sought-after employers in the world and you’ll leave Ada with a full degree qualification under your belt.

“Ada is providing a pipeline of diverse digital talent into the UK tech sector and we are proud that 95% of our apprentice alumni are in permanent employment in the tech sector or enrolled in Higher Education courses.”

We will open applications for our Autumn 2023 apprenticeships on 11th November. Please register your interest here http://pwctrk.co.uk/tp/rj6_VjFlM_J_K

Profit warnings issued by North West listed companies double year-on-year in Q3 2022

  • Eight profit warnings were issued in Q3 2022 in the North West, up from four in Q3 2021
  • North West warnings up from six in Q2 2022
  • Highest number of Q3 warnings in the North West since 2019
  • Highest volume of North West profit warnings issued by companies in consumer-facing industries and retail sector

NORTH WEST, MONDAY 24th OCTOBER 2022: Profit warnings issued by UK-listed companies in the North West of England in Q3 2022 doubled year-on-year, according to EY-Parthenon’s latest Profit Warnings report.

In total eight warnings were issued throughout the region in Q3 2022, up from four in Q3 2021 and six in Q2 2022. The third quarter’s eight warnings represent the region’s highest third-quarter profit warnings total since 2019.

Consumer-facing industries and the retail sector saw the highest volume of profit warnings issued across the region for Q3, as cost-of-living pressures continued to squeeze spending habits.

Sam Woodward, EY-Parthenon UK&I Turnaround and Restructuring Partner in the North West, said: “The volume of profit warnings in the North West had cooled since last winter, but challenges for businesses have increased over the last few months, leading to rising numbers of warnings. Given the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on consumers, it‘s unsurprising to see consumer-facing businesses among the most affected across the region.

“We’re approaching the important ‘golden quarter’ of Q4, during which retailers have traditionally looked to maximise seasonal sales opportunities. However, with ongoing geopolitical challenges and disruptions in supply chains skewing working capital for many, businesses in the North West and further afield could be facing another difficult period.”

National profit warning figures

Nationally, profit warnings issued by UK-listed companies in Q3 2022 reached their highest third-quarter total since 2008. A total of 86 profit warnings were issued between July and September 2022, compared to 51 in the same period of 2021, an increase of 69% and a 34% increase from Q2 2022 when 64 warnings were issued.

Warnings issued by consumer-facing companies rose almost three-fold year-on-year, and EY-Parthenon’s report reveals that 57% of warnings during Q3 cited rising costs, while 23% were prompted by labour market issues.

The three warning ‘danger zone’ now contains 28 listed companies who have issued their third consecutive profit warning in the last year, compared to 18 at the end of Q2 2022. On average, one-in-five companies delist within a year of their third warning, most due to insolvency.

Consumer-facing sectors most affected

Consumer-facing companies issued 44 warnings in total – the highest quarterly total since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sectors with the most warnings in Q3 2022 were Retailers (eleven), Travel and Leisure (nine) and Food Producers (seven) – with the latter sector at a 21-year high.

Cost issues featured in 70% of all consumer-facing sector warnings with many companies saying that they are struggling to pass on price increases to customers, while falling consumer confidence and changing buying behaviour featured in 50% of warnings.

FTSE Retailers facing multiple headwinds

Over 40% of FTSE Retailers and over 60% of the FTSE Personal Care, Drug and Grocery Stores sector issued a profit warning in the last 12 months.

Both sectors, which were already facing spiralling cost, supply chain and labour challenges, are now also contending with falling consumer confidence. Over 70% of retailers issuing a warning in Q3 referenced weakening consumer confidence, while inventory challenges have also intensified as falling demand creates surplus stock issues.

The retail sector has also been grappling with long-term structural change. Most retailers issuing warnings in 2022 operate exclusively or mostly online and are feeling the impact of the post-pandemic shift back to store sales on top of increased delivery costs and product returns.

Silvia Rindone, EY UK&I Retail Lead, said: “The retail sector is facing a challenging winter while according to the EY ITEM Club Autumn Forecast, the UK economy is expected to be in recession until the middle of next year. However, there are steps businesses in the sector can take to prepare. For example, it is critical that retailers use the breathing space provided by the energy price cap to safeguard their long-term survival. This means reviewing their pricing strategy and considering how and where they can pass price rises on, developing robust cash management plans and inventory visibility to avoid costly write-offs.

“Above all, retailers need to adapt to changes in consumer behaviour. Our Future Consumer Index shows that the market is polarised between cash strapped consumers watching every penny and those willing and able to spend if retailers entice them. Navigating this K-shaped profile, focusing on core products, and understanding what will drive growth will be the key to thriving in the current economy.”

Travel & Leisure profit warnings double in 2022

Companies in the FTSE Travel and Leisure sector issued 22 profit warnings in the first three quarters of 2022, double the total issued for the same period in 2021. The sector had been the beneficiary of pent-up consumer spending post-pandemic but rising costs and pressure on disposable income and consumer confidence look set to intensify during a vital period for the sector.

Sam Woodward said: “Christmas will be a critical period for the travel and leisure sector, particularly hospitality. Winter is also when traditionally tour operators start to see deposits for summer travel coming in, but consumers are increasingly taking a wait and see approach creating cash flow challenges and making it much harder for businesses to plan.

“Some companies will struggle to adapt, and some will be vulnerable to failure. But for travel and leisure companies who draw upon their experience, resilience, and agility, and tell a compelling long-term value story, the opportunities are significant.”

From calls to code: AO employee swaps contact centre for tech career

From contact centre agent to web developer, Carmen Charnley, from Blackburn, has had quite the journey in her first six years at online electricals retailer AO.

After working for her local council for almost a decade, Carmen, 37, was ready to embark on a new challenge with the Bolton-based business. Never in a million years did she imagine she’d be writing code for the retailer’s website.

Six years ago, Carmen started in the contact centre fielding queries from customers, before moving into the quality team. When the opportunity arose to participate in a workshop on coding, she jumped at the chance to try something completely new and soon signed up to an intensive bootcamp with Code Nation.

Having never seen herself as ‘tech savvy’, Carmen was surprised at how much she enjoyed the sessions. She said: “I didn’t even have internet when I was at university, so Tech wasn’t an option I’d even considered. I always thought you needed years of experience with computers to work in Tech.”

The 12-week course from Code Nation covered both front and back-end development, with participants visiting the AO office once a month to sit with its tech team. She said: “I really got stuck in from day one and learnt so much in those handful of weeks. I amazed myself at how quickly I got my head around different coding language. On the final day, I had to present the website I’d produced to the business. Rather than just practicing in my spare time, I was working on a genuine project for a real business.”

After graduating from the bootcamp, Carmen secured a role as a Front End Developer and is now a highly valued member of the tech team at AO. She said: “I deal with the customer-facing website, and I want to help our customers choose products that suit them more easily, so my knowledge from the Contact Centre has definitely come in handy!”

Since taking on a full-time role in Tech, Carmen has found her passion for front-end development, and she only wishes that she could’ve started her new career sooner. Each day, she works on everything from the product listings to the AO homepage. She said: “There are times when you’ll be going around in circles for hours on something that doesn’t work. But when it does click into place, it’s the best feeling in the world – I’d love to have been able to learn this stuff when I was a kid.”

To find out more about careers in Tech with AO, please visit: https://www.ao-jobs.com/it/.

Alternative SME Lender, One Stop Business Finance secures facility increase with Shawbrook Bank

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Specialist working capital, property development and bridging lender, One Stop Business Finance Limited has secured an extension of up to £4 million to its existing £6 million funding line from Shawbrook Bank.

The amendment to the facility, signed on the 13th of September – contributes to the alternative lender, One Stop Business Finance Limited continuing to grow its loan book and exceed lending targets for the year.

The facility has increased to £10 million on an uncommitted basis, which allows One Stop Business Finance Limited to continue to support SME businesses throughout England and Wales. This follows sustained profit growth and a successful recruitment campaign in the North-West, which saw two new Business Development Managers, Liam Killen and Ben Clarke join the group earlier this year.

The company typically funds secured property transactions, offering responsible, alternative funding solutions such as working capital, bridging, revolving credit facilities, and invoice finance.

This agreement is a strong endorsement of the development of One Stop Business Finance’s commitment to investing in business growth, operations and risk procedures and offering exemplary customer service.

Due to its proximity to its customers and the market, owner-controlled One Stop Business Finance has the flexibility, knowledge, and appetite to help businesses when their bank is unable to do so.

Andrew Mackenzie, Group Managing Director of One Stop Business Finance, commented on the facility increase: “I am delighted that we have been able to build further on the relationship that we began with Shawbrook in 2019. This additional funding line continues to sit well alongside our private money and ensures that we have sufficient cash availability to deliver our short-and medium-term plans. Shawbrook continues to be very easy to deal with and has wholeheartedly bought into our strategic growth plans.”

The Speciality Finance team at Shawbrook has an established track record in providing funding lines to non-bank specialist lenders across multiple sectors, including property, SME, and consumer finance.

Luke Randell, Associate Director of Speciality Finance, commented that “Shawbrook has proudly supported One Stop Business Finance since 2019 recognising the business’ success in providing flexible financial solutions. We were able to provide a bespoke funding solution increasing our facility to £10 million following years of successful prudent loan book growth. We value our relationship with One Stop Business Finance and look forward to remaining a key funding partner as the business continues to grow.”

Finance and Innovation: More Support Needed for North West Entrepreneurs

In July 2020, North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT) published a key report looking at the steps needed to deliver more investment-ready businesses and a stronger finance pipeline for every stage of business growth across the North West.

Two years on, an update report launched today concludes that whilst significant progress had been made in the region to increase the levels and types of finance available to support entrepreneurs and scale-up businesses, more and better coordinated support remains a priority.

Outside of the dominant finance sector in London and the South East of England, the pool of investors is always going to be more limited, which means firms located in regions such as the North West will need to work hard to present their business and its potential to financers.

With a lower density of innovative businesses and finance providers in the region compared with London, the networks that can connect the two become more important. The research finds that these ecosystems of sector clusters, support organisations and funders are fragmented across the region.

Pockets of good practice, notably in Manchester, are helping to make more efficient and effective connections between entrepreneurs and investors, but many would-be finance seekers continue to struggle to navigate the available support and have been frustrated by too many wrong doors.

Key findings of the report are that:

  • Greater collaborative effort is needed to ‘shine a spotlight’ on clusters of existing and emerging innovation excellence in the region that could develop in their maturity and become national assets if given tailored support in coordination with local agencies.
  • Consensus is needed on how support for innovative and growth businesses will be provided and funded in the long term.
  • There is more that the established business community can do to support conversations around investor networks and funding opportunities and help make connections where appropriate. This includes exploring further opportunities to support new and growing businesses through the sharing of advice and expertise.
  • The ability to effectively share data remains a barrier and further investigation is needed as to how data could be shared to leverage opportunities for businesses across the North West.
  • There are opportunities to work with organisations representing Ethnic Minority Businesses to explore how trust can be built up in the finance and business support ecosystem.

Jonathan Murphy, CEO, Assura plc and Chair, NWBLT:

“Our original report recognised how crucial entrepreneurs and innovative businesses are for the long-term success of our economy, but also that the support available to them is often inconsistent. A central theme was the need to ensure access to an adequate supply of finance.

“However, finance alone will not drive the success of innovative entrepreneurs in the region. Businesses need to be better equipped with information and management skills to access the finance available and secure the confidence of investors.”

Task Group Chair, Glenn Bemment – Head of ESG (Sustainability and Regionalisation), SME & Mid Corporate Business & Commercial Banking, Lloyds Banking Group:

“Since publication of the original ‘Finance and Innovation – Essential Enablers for Future Business Growth’ report in July 2020 there have been some notable additions to the funding landscape in the region.

“British Business Bank has continued to develop and extend the range and number of delivery partners that it works through, and the launch of British Patient Capital’s Life Science Investment programme will invest £200m and attract a further £400m of private capital; the Manchester Angels Network has been relaunched and the region is now second only to London and the South East for private capital investment in the UK.

“There is more to be done. More can be done to improve the line of sight for investors outside of the region to some of the great early-stage businesses in the region. More can be done to make sure that those businesses are as well-prepared as they can be when they seek investment. And more can be done to support entrepreneurs and business owners from ethnic minority backgrounds, especially black entrepreneurs, who find the journey through the funding and support ecosystem even harder than the majority.”

Copies of the report can be downloaded from the NWBLT website (www.nwblt.co.uk).

Cultureville, BOB Expo and the BIPC Greater Manchester present The Black Creative Soirée: An evening celebrating Black Creatives in Business

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  • As Black History Month reaches its end for another year Manchester’s BIPC plays host to a vibrant collection of the region’s leading black businesses, business leaders and entrepreneurs.
  • Approximately 36% of customers who use the BIPC Greater Manchester are from BAME communities. 
  • This event will showcase the businesses of some of those customers set against a backdrop of spectacular music and art with fashion taking centre stage.

On Friday 28th October the spectacular Shakespeare Hall in Manchester’s Central Library will host an event which will prove that history, and in this case Black History, is very much rooted in the present – not simply the past.

A glamour-infused fashion show from design houses Cultureville, Lohi Fashion, Bittany and Not Your Trend will sit central to the evening: an occasion which spotlights history in the making.

Cultureville who are co-producers of the event is a Manchester-based, award-winning fashion brand specialising in handcrafted clothing and accessories featuring bold African wax prints in contemporary designs. The business was founded by Adeola and Ronke Jane Adelakun.  Their vision: to make modern African fashion more accessible to everyone.  Cultureville’s journey to date has been supported by the BIPC particularly in the areas of digital marketing, product showcasing and also sitting central to a sustainability workshop presented to existing and aspiring business owners.

Adeola Adelakun says, “The support of the BIPC in training us on digital marketing and exposing our brand to a wider audience has been invaluable!”

Cultureville is producing the event in partnership with BIPC and Monique Kuffour, the Founder & CEO of BOB Expo the largest Shopping Expo featuring Black businesses in the UK.

The evening will be hosted by Carol-Ann Whitehead, fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Founder of the Zebra Partnership, and Kemoy Walker, Prominent DJ and founder of KYSO. Amongst others contributing to the evening are Venessa Scott, Artist and specialist in Creative Education, Founders of The Poetry Place, Griot Gabriel and Cherelle Anne.

Further details of all contributors can be found in the Editors’ Notes below.

Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure said:

“Our event will spotlight local, Black-owned businesses. Cultureville is an example of a business who made use of the expertise available in our BIPC and are now, thanks to their hard work and creative flair, able to showcase the wonderful work they are creating to a wide audience.

This event is a great way for us to mark Black History Month in Central Library and, together we can celebrate local creativity and business successes.”

Business & IP Centres have unparalleled reach and engagement with diverse audiences.  They support a high percentage of women and black, Asian and minority ethnic entrepreneurs to start up and grow their businesses, when compared with other business support providers.  BIPC GM is able to report that 36% of customers that use its resources are from BAME communities.

Tickets for The Black Creative Soiree can be found at: 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-creative-soiree-tickets-427987892307

Tesco shoppers in Oldham give £10,000 to Hits Radio Cash for Kids Charity

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Tesco shoppers in Oldham have chosen Hits Radio Cash for Kids charity to give a £10k grant to as part of a celebratory Community Grant one-off funding campaign.

On October 15th, shoppers in 100 large Tesco stores were given the chance to take part in a lucky dip to find specially created gold versions of its iconic blue voting token. The total amount being given away in gold tokens was worth £1million in grants to local good causes.

Hits Radio Cash for Kids was one of three local charities available to vote for in the Greenfield Superstore to receive one of the 100 £10,000 Golden Grants.

The £1million donation marks £100 million in Tesco Community Grants being given to more than 50,000 good causes since they were launched in 2016. Good causes that have benefited include breakfast clubs, food banks, Meals on Wheels, playgrounds and green spaces, parks and green spaces, counselling and support services for young people and children’s sports teams.

With many small, often volunteer-run groups facing rising costs, Tesco Community Grants are vital at the moment to help them keep going. The current cost of living crisis is also seeing many groups starting to offer hot meals or warm spaces in addition to their usual services.

Claire De Silva, head of communities and local media at Tesco, said: “These events across the country were not only a really fun occasion in store, with our colleagues and customers really keen to get involved but also an important opportunity for people to choose a local good cause to receive the £10,000 grant. Hopefully this will help to make a difference to everyone that they continue to support within our communities.”

Jessica Rigby, Manager at Hits Radio Cash for Kids charity, said: “We are absolutely over the moon to have won the Tesco Golden Grants award! As the cost of living is increasing, we are seeing more families than ever pushed into poverty and not knowing who to turn to for support.

“Working closely with social workers, teachers & community groups, we will use this grant to make sure that over 285 children in Greater Manchester are provided with basic essentials such as food, heating & clothing this winter, making a very difficult time a little easier for them.

“The support we have received from Tesco over the last few years has been phenomenal and we cannot thank them enough for everything they do!”

Manchester-based company Street Group tops industry charts this awards season

The rapidly growing propTech company, Street Group, have become the undisputed best estate agency marketing tool, following a series of recent award wins.

Based in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, in the last two months alone, the company have taken home:

–       Best Large Supplier at the Estate Agent Masters 

–       Best Overall Supplier at the Estate Agent Masters 

–       Best Instruction Generation Tool 2022 at The ESTAS 

–       Silver for Best Overall Supplier at The ESTAS

–       World class to work for by Best Companies

These nationwide industry awards celebrate only the best estate agency suppliers and property software, cementing Street Group’s industry-leading reputation.

Heather Staff, co-founder of Spectre, commented “We couldn’t be happier to have won these awards. Each trophy reflects the incredibly hard work the team have put in to create a product which has proven itself so valuable to estate agents. There’s a real buzz in our office at the moment, it’s a really exciting time for us with an office expansion and further recruitment in the near future too. We are evolving every day and we’re ecstatic to see where we can go next.”

Street Group was founded in 2015 by brother and sister Tom and Heather Staff. Recognised across the country for advancing property technology, the duo champion the northern powerhouse of technology firms. Also known for their employee engagement, Spectre and its parent company, Street Group, achieved World Class Company to Work for in 2022’s Best Companies Awards for the second year running, after ranking 24th Best Small Company to Work for in The UK in 2021. 

Mather & Co appoints new Managing Director

Leading experience designers, Mather & Co, have appointed a new Managing Director, Kim Kherlopian.

Kim has spent the last 3 and half years working as Project/Build Director at Mather & Co and previously spent 15 years as CEO of a multi-faceted Museum fit out company delivering world class projects across the African and European continent. Kim steps into this role with a wealth of industry experience, an excellent reputation for relationship building and strong strategic and leadership skills.

Managing Director at Mather & Co, Kim Kherlopian, said: “I’m incredibly excited to take on this new challenge, as I step into the role as Managing Director for Mather & Co and look forward to expanding upon all the great work that has already been done. I am proud to be surrounded by an amazingly talented and creative team and look forward to the challenges of delivering the Mather and Co vision for years to come.”

Mather & Co are a North-West based multi-disciplinary design company, specialising in experience design across the sports, heritage, and entertainment sectors. Their work portfolio includes fascinating projects such as Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, Gretna Green Experience, Quarry Bank Mill, Silverstone Interactive Museum and The R&A World Golf Museum.

The design consultancy is currently working on projects such as Inverness Castle, Ipswich Museum, Durham History Centre, Discovery Point Dundee, and Manchester Town Hall.

For more information about Mather & Co, visit www.matherandco.com